The Québec Plan of Action to Counter Elder Abuse

1. Affiliated with the The Québec Plan of Action to Counter Elder Abuse IFA, May 2012 Marie Beaulieu, Ph.D.

3. June 14th, 2010 Governmental Action Plan to Counter Elder Abuse 2010-2015

4. Has to be celebrated… • Fist one, expected for many years • 20$ M for implementation

5. Content • Context • Historical milestones on Elder Abuse • Procedures • Plan (content) • Definition of a social problem • Actions • What has been done in 2 years ? • What do we have to achieve next ? Affiliated with the

6. Context

7. Minister responsible for seniors affairs (March 2007) • Marguerite Blais • Public consultation « Living conditions for seniors » (summer and fall 2007) Affiliated with the

8. “ People are ashamed to talk about abuse. They feel guilty and at fault. It demands a lot of courage to ask for help. We do not want everybody to know that we have such a problem.” Affiliated with the

9. March 2008 Affiliated with the

10. 7 avenues of change • Shattering the silence on abuse and mistreatment • Changing mentalities will allow for better detection of potential abuse and mistreatment • Understanding situations of abuse and mistreatment more clearly • Ensure follow-ups after abuse detection • Stricter rules should be implemented for bank account power of attorney and significant cash withdrawals • Particular attention needs to be given to institutionalized seniors who are frequently more vulnerable and require better oversight to prevent abuse • Harsher penalties and greater support Affiliated with the

11. Milestones : Elder abuse as a social policy issue in Québec

12. Important Milestones Affiliated with the

13. Actors (or partners)

15. Procedures

16. A multilevel structureLeadership : Seniors’ Secretariat Deputy Minister of all concerned ministries A writing committee An experts committee

17. Plan (content)

18. Content • Definition of a social problem • Actions Affiliated with the

19. Definition of a social problem

20. Content 1.Context 2. State of the evidence 2.1 Definition of elder abuse 2.2 Forms of abuse 2.3 Sings of elder abuse 2.4 Scope of the problem 2.5 Recognizing abuse in the elderly 2.6 Recognizing abusers 2.7 Effects of abuse on those who suffer it 2.8 Protective measures 2.9 Best Practices 2.10 What we can conclude from the state of evidence

21. Content - 2 3. Current organization of services across Québec 3.1 Legal context 3.2 Administrative context 3.3 Services 4. Towards a Plan of Action

22. Definition of elder abuse “Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person.”(WHO, 2002) Affiliated with the

23. Forms Physical abuse • Hitting, pushing, throwing objects, force-feeding, secluding, bullying, or unduly delaying assistance needed to meet basic needs (such as trips to the washroom). Psychological or emotional abuse • Identity theft, attacks on an individual’s dignity or self-esteem, humiliation, threats, verbal abuse, infantilizing, ignoring or secluding, degrading remarks, disparaging remarks about one’s values, religious beliefs or practices. Sexual abuse • Harassment, fondling or touching, being victim of exhibitionism, sexual abuse, being ridiculed for wanting to express one’s sexuality.

24. Forms (2) Financial or property abuse • Being extorted through emotional blackmail, being robbed of one’s jewellery, goods or cash, being pressured about an inheritance, embezzlement of one’s funds, identity theft, telemarketing scams, inappropriate use of bank cards or fraudulent preauthorized payment plans. Human rights violations* • Being discriminated against due to age, having medical treatments imposed despite one’s ability to make informed decisions. Negligence • The omissions of any act required to maintain the well-being of a senior, regardless of whether the omission is deliberate or due to a lack of knowledge or lack of awareness about any given situation.

25. Current organization of services in Québec The responsibility of developing and implementing the initiatives necessary to foster environments free of abuse falls on governmental agencies and departments. Organizations who serve individuals living in situations of abuse are not always equipped to address the specific needs of the elderly, while other services vary from one region to the next. Such services include abuse prevention and detection, while others focus on intervention efforts by locating resources and assisting victims in lodging complaints through the proper administrative and judicial channels.

26. Actions

27. Premises • In order to reduce the incidence of elder abuse, we must increase the level of vigilance and knowledge about the problem among seniors, caregivers and the population at large. • Governmental intervention on the issue of elder abuse must consider its complexity and must be implemented in numerous settings in order to address a variety of cases involving both elderly women and men.

28. Effectively countering elder abuse must involve a coordinated and comprehensive effort, and be founded on prevention, detection and intervention.

29. Guiding principles of the Plan 1. Every senior has the right to have their physical and psychological integrity respected; 2. Acts of elder abuse are unacceptable acts of power and domination and must be censored and denounced by society; 3. The eradication of elder abuse will flow from the egalitarian, equitable and respectful treatment of the elderly; 4. Any and all seniors in situations of abuse must have ready access to mechanisms that will let them regain control of their life as quickly as possible; 5. Making living environments free of abuse is a matter of individual and collective responsibility.

30. Structured actions to counter elder abuse •A public awareness campaign : to demystify the problem of elder abuse by reporting its incidences and strip it of its taboo status. •A university research chair on elder abuse : to promote the acquisition of new knowledge regarding prevention, detection and intervention among researchers and practitioners.

31. Structured actions to counter elder abuse (2) •A hotline: Serving the entire province, it is maintained by professionals who listen and ensure that individuals are referred appropriately based on the type of abuse. • A team of regional coordinators in all regions of Quebec: They take inventory of the services and resources available in each region in order to establish close ties between these agencies to improve the effectiveness of services geared towards countering elder abuse.

32. Success through committed partnerships – over 30 actions • Develop knowledge about elder abuse • Increase information about services and recourses available to abused seniors • Improve training and better preparing caregivers • Strengthen and extend initiatives to better counter elder abuse • Leverage coordination to better prevent, detect and intervene

33. What has been done in 2 years ?

34. Implementation • Annual Forum with non government partners • Diagnostic of Regional coordinators , plan of action • Planning the third annual sensitization campaign • Research Chair – multiple activities of research and knowledge transfer • Hotline - more calls than expected, an new expertise • 30+ other actions : confidentiality, Public curator office, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) the body mandated by the government of Québec to regulate the province's financial markets and provide assistance to consumers of financial products and services,

35. What do we have to achieve next ?

36. Issues • Improve networking mechanisms between local, regional, provincial and federal government • Ensure that all organisations, seniors association or advocacy groups and different services implementing various programs regarding seniors (such as AFC, caregiver support, etc.) • Put a focus on abuse in institutions • Better articulate both prevention of elder abuse (maltraitance) and promotion of good practice (bientraitance) • Already start the crafting of the second Plan of action

37. Thank you ! Marie.Beaulieu@USherbrooke.ca www.maltraitancedesaines.com